Carrier for tubular braiding machines



- W. E. COOK cARRIEKFok TUBULAR BRAIDme MACHINES Filed Jan. 11, 1926Oct. 23, 1928;

n W 33 w I f? INVENTCR Patented Get. 23, 1928.

ATENT OFFICE.

W'ILLIAM E. COOK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CARRIER FOR TUBULAR BBAIDING MACHINES.

Application filed January 11, 1926. Serial No 80,400

My invention relates to carriers for tubular braiding machines, and moreparticularly to carriers particularly adapted for use upon high speedbraiding machines.

I-Ieretofore in carriers used in braiding machines, a suitably guided,vertically movable weighted or spring-pressed traveler has been used forcontrolling the latch mechanism of the machine, this traveler inaddition to the functions above referred to controlling the tightness ofthe braid and taking up slack in the thread between it and the bobbin orcop, and the material being covered as a result of its rise and fallaccording to the run of thread from the bobbin or cop. With suchcarriers one bobbin end was provided with ratchet teeth engageable by apawl operated by the traveler or weight, thus affording a latchmechanism to check the rotary movement of the bobbin or cop and permitthe traveler or weight to function in taking up the slack in the mannerabove referred to and tensioning the thread to secure the desiredtightness of the braid.

These functionings of the carrier are one cause of limitation as to thespeed at which tubular braiding machines may be operated, and even atmoderate speeds, with the construction and arrangement of travelerheretofore used, there is a tendency toward frequent breakage of thethread unless the weight of the thread is selected with regard to thespeed of operation of'themachine. In operating at higher speeds, thewear upon the latch mechanism is, as compared with its operation atlower speeds, disproportionately increased, thus materially shorteningthe life of a bobbin or cop.

With the above conditions in mind my invention contemplates a carrier inwhich a uniform, constant, predetermined tensioning stress may beapplied to the thread between thevbobbin or "cop and the traveler, thusavoiding slack between the traveler and the bobbin or cop andpermittingthe traveler to function mainly as a control for the automatic stopmechanism of the machine, and as a tensioning device for determining thedegree of tightness of the braid.

By a construction of carrier embodying my invention, the latch mechanismis entirely dispensed with, thus not only avoiding diiliculties in theoperation of a braiding machine due to wear in different parts I oftfnelatch mechanism, but ensuring a substantially continuous uniform rate offeed of the thread from the bobbin.

The carrier in securing the results includes a tensioning device throughwhich the thread passes after leaving the bobbin or cop and beforeengaging the traveler, which tensioning device preferably may beadjusted to. accord with the strength or weight of the thread, and thespeed of operation of the braiding machine, thus not only permitting theuse of lighter threads at higher speedsavoidanceof frequent stoppagesthereof,

this, however, being subsidiary to that increase of capacity due to thepossibility of increasing the speed of the machine itself. The carrierof my invention is also so constructed as to permit the control of thetension developed by the traveler so as to regulate the tightness of thebraid and to adapt the carrier to threads of different weights, heavierthreads permitting greater tightness in the braid than lighter andweaker threads.

I may also provide the carrier with means which will permit great easeof operation thereof and minimize wear thereon or upon the top plate ofa braiding machine, such means permitting an increased speed in themovements of the carrieras a whole while minimizing wear upon diiferentparts thereof resulting from such increased speed.

The invention consists primarily in a carrier for tubular braidingmachines embodying therein an upper late adapted to bear upon the topplate of a braiding machine, a spindle for a'bobbin or cop carried bysaid plate, a' stem having an eye formed therein carried by said plateand parallel with said spindle, a tensioning traveler slidably mountedin relation to said stem and having an eye formed thereon. forthethread, means constantly acting upon said traveler to impart movementthereto away from the eye of said stem, a looped gu de for the threadcarried by said plate "parallel and interrrm li ill? ate said spindleand said stem, and a tensioning device adapted to engage the threadintermediate said guide and said traveler; and in such other novelfeatures of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter setforth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claimshereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of one side of a carrier embodying my, invention,with portions thereof broken away; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view of said carrier from a different angle. v

Like numerals refer to like parts in both of said views.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, I provide thecarrier with aspindle 10 having a seat 11 adapted to receive one end ofthe bobbin or cop containing the thread, indicated at 12. It is to benoted that no latch mechanism is provided adjacent this spindle thuspermitting an unrestrained turning movement of the bobbin or cop.

fAdjacent the spindle 10, is a stem 13 having a quick threading eye,such as the pig tail 14, at the top thereof, the thread leading fromthis eye to the point of application to the object upon which the braidis being formed. Slidably mounted in relation to the stem 13 is avertically movable, tensioning traveler 15 of old and well known construction, this carrier preferably being mounted upon the stem 13itself. Said traveler 15 is provided with a guide tongue or eye 16through which the thread 12'is passed. and from which it passes to thepig tail 14;. The traveler 15 rises and falls during its tortuous, inand out, movement in the braiding machine in paying out thread to theobject upon which the braid is being formed and in taking up slackformed in the thread between said traveler and said object.

The traveler is made of sheet metal and possesses but little inherentweight, the tensioning efi'ect thereof being seeuredthrough the mediumofv a long coiled spring 17 mounted upon the shank 18 of a looped threadguide adjacent the spindle 10 or between said spindle 10 and thetraveler 15, said traveler also having a bearing opening thereinco-operating with said shank 18. The shank 18 and stem 13 affordparallel guides for said traveler and prevent any rotative movementthereof with relation to the other parts of the carrier with which itcooperates.

Except for the. resistance encountered by the traveler from the spring17, it is free to, move vertically upon the stem 13 and shank 18 so thatthe tension of this spring will determine the tensioning action of thetraveler in determining the tightness of the.

braid while at the same time ensuring a rapid movement of the travelerin taking up slack in the threadbetween said traveler and the objectupon which the braid is being formed. This latter is particularly desireable when operating a braiding machine at high speeds, since itminimizes likelihood of the overrunning of the traveler in its upwardmovement and ensures a quick downward movement thereof responsive to aless ened resistance due to the formation of slack resulting from themovement of the carrier in its entirety toward the point of applicationof the thread to the object upon which the braid is being formed. 7

To permit variation in the tensioning action of the traveler 15, Iprovide an adjustable seat 19 for the upper end of the spring 17, whichseat in the form of the invention shown, consists of a collar slidablymounted upon the shank 18 and secured in any adjusted position inrelation to said shank, by means of an ordinary set screw 20.

The looped guide above referred to is formed by a curved and downturnedend 21 of the shank 18, the length of the loop thus formed,approximating that of the bobbin or cop so as to compensate forthe'vertical run of the thread in relation to the bobbin during itsunwinding therefrom.

The thread runs directly from the bobbin or cop through this loopedguide, and'in passing therefrom to the eye 16 upon the traveler 15 issubjected to the action of a friction tensioning device consisting ofparallel friction plates 22 and 23, mounted upon a screw-threaded stem 21 carried by the stem 13. (lo-operating with said stem 2 is an adjustingnut 25 acting through a spring 26 upon the friction plates 22 and 23.This tensioning device is similar to that foundupon certain types ofsewing machines,'and

Elli) act-s to develop a continuing uniform friction upon a threadpassing between the plates 22 and 23, the extentof this friction beingdetermined by the tension developed in the spring 26. The use of thescrewthreaded stem 24 and the adjusting nut 25 permits the regulation'ofthe tension'of said spring, and of the tensioning effect of the plates22 and 23 upon the thread.

For the purpose of definition, the tensioning device immediately abovedescribed is a fixed tensioning device positioned inter" mediate thetensioning traveler looped guide member adjacent the bobbin or copsupporting spindle. The purpose of this device is to restrain the run ofthe thread intermediate the traveler and the bobbin or cop whilepermitting the free run and the V tion of slack to between said travelerand the object upon which the braid is being formed.

The spring 17 may be of a strength capable of developing a tensionsufficiently great to overcome the resistance encountered by the threadin passing between the plates 22 and 23, or the complete closing of thecoils thereof may be relied upon to stop the upward movement of thetraveler, and develop the desired tension to control the tightness ofthe braid.

To prevent possible creation of slack between the looped guide and thebobbin or cop, a friction device 2'? acting upon one of the ends of thebobbin or cop may be employed, this device, however, being constantlyengaged with the edge of the end of the bobbin or cop and exerting acontinuous uniform braking action thereon which, however, may be veryslight. This device 27 is used merely as a safety device to avoidpossible entanglement of the thread resulting from the creation of slacktherein bv overrunning of the bobbin or cop when there is a rapidwithdrawal of the thread therefrom as a result of the high speed ofoperation of a braiding machine. The use of such a device is merely forthe purpose of inclusion of an additional safeguard to minimizelikelihood of breaking of the thread,

The spindle 10, stem 13 and shank 18 are carried by the usual upperplate 28 which bears upon the top plate of the machine and is connectedwith the lower plate 29 bearing upon the underside of the top plate ofthe machine. These plates in the form of the invention shown areconnected by means of studs such as 30, each stud having mounted thereonan anti-friction roller 31, said rollers 31 moving in the slots of thetop plate of the braiding machine. The purpose of these rollers is tominimize w ar upon the walls of the slots, which walls wear rapidly inmachines running only at moderate speeds and are subject to much greaterwear when the machine is operated at higher speeds.

Depending from the lower plate 29 is a stud 32 having mounted thereon anantifriction roller 33 for engagement with the slots in the gears foractuating the carriers. This roller 33 has for its purpose the reductionof wear of these co-operating parts.

The upper plate 28 hasthe usual guide stud 34 for the traveler 15, andthis traveler is provided with the usual diverging arms 35 and 36 foractuating the stop mechanism of the machine. old and well known, thepresent invention relating more particularly to the control of thethreads when passing from the bobbin or cop to the object upon which thebraid is bei'ngformed. g

The operation of the herein described carrier is substantially asfollows.

These parts, however, are

Carriers embodying my invention may be used with braiding machines forforming braid upon various different objects and the weight and strengthof the thread may vary greatly according to the character of the object.In the production of braided flexible conduits, heavy threads are used,and likelihood of breakage even when threads are tightly braided uponthe mandrel, is very remote. In applying a covering braid to certainkinds of insulated wire, however, as, by way of example, wires in whichthe body of the insulation consists of cotton sliver, the methods ofmaking such wires are such as to permit the effective utilization ofvery light, weak thread, particularly in the smaller wires. Irrespectiveof the weight or strength of the thread, however, when operating thebraiding machine at highspeeds, there is always likelihood of theformation of knots or snarls which will result in the breakage of thethread, so that the carrier of my invention may be advantageously usedirrespective of the weight or strength of the thread in thebraid.

When preparing for a run of a braiding machine, each carrier is threadedand will operate insubstantially the following manner. The thread 12 isdrawn from the bobbin or cop, passed through the guide loop formed bythe shank 18 and the extended end 21, and therefrom is passed betweenthe plates 22 and 23 of the fixed tensioning device. Thence it is passedthrough the guide or eye 16 upon the tensioning traveler 15 and throughthe eye or pig tail 14 toward the top of the stem 13. The end of thethread is then applied to the object upon which the braid is to beformed in the usual manner, and power is applied to the braidingmachine.

During the formation of the braid the carriers pass in an 'undulatory'pathabout the axis of the object upon which the braid is being formed,having a considerable component ofmovement radially of said axis,relatively much greater than the length of the thread applied to theobject during this movement.

This in and out movement necessitates the use of the tensioning traveler15, since with the movement of the carrier toward'the axis of theobject, slack is formed in the thread, this slack being taken up by thedownward movement of the traveler. With the outward movement of thecarrier, however, it is necessary to pay out the thread rapidly,

the upward movement of the traveler ac-- I nitude to cause breakage ofthe thread, and

no slack can be formed between the traveler and the bobbin or cop whichwill result in the formation of knots or snarls which almost inevitablycause breakage.

With the outward movement of the carrier, the paying out of the thread12 as a result of the upward movement of the traveler is always lessthan the length of this movement and of the circular componentofmovement of the carrier, so that when the traveler reaches the limit ofits upward movement, whether this results from a positive stoppage ofthe traveler due to the closing of the coils of the spring 17 or thedevelopment of a tension in said spring greater, than the resistance tothe run of the thread between the tension plates 22 and 23, the threadwill be drawn from the bobbin or cop through the looped guide 18-21through the plates 22 and 23, the guide or eye 16 and the eye or pigtail 14, to an exa tent required 'by the braiding operation.

However sudden this drawing of the thread may be, there can be no stressplaced thereupon greater than that developed by the plates 22 and 23,and hence there can be no breakage of the thread provided the tensioningaction of said plates is regulated to conform to the strength of thethread being used. 7

Since the bobbin or cop may turn freely at all times'upon the spindle10, and the friction device embodying the plates 22 and 23 issubstantially the sole means for checking the run of the thread, thepull on the thread will be controlled by these devices in a manner toprevent movement of the bobbin. or cop to an extent greater than thatrequired by the braiding operation and thus prevent the formation of anyslack between the traveler 15 and said bobbin or cop.

Atall times while the machine is in operation and a thread is unbroken,the traveler 15 will be held at some point between the upper plate 28and the point where its upward movement is stopped by the spring 17 thussupplying a continuous tensioning stress to the thread between thevcarrier and the body upon which the braid is being formed, whichtensioning stress is proportionate to the strength of said spring plusthe resistance to the run of the thread olfered by the plates 22 and 23.The brake device 27 is not sufficiently strong in its action to modifythis condition, this device exerting merely a light braking action toprevent possible overrunning of the bobbin or cop.

By lowering the adjustable spring seat or collar 19, the tensioningeffect exerted by the spring 17 maybe increased, and by raising thecollar it maybe lessened. The

spring 17 however, while of very light ten sion, is sufficiently strongto ensure a downward movement of the traveler 15 substantiallysimultaneously with the reversal of the radial component of movement ofthe carrier requiring such downward movement, and thus permits theoperation of the braiding machine at high speeds without likelihood ofthe presence of slack which through ballooning or otherwise might causethe entanglement of the threads from different carriers or of the threadof any carrier.

The anti-friction rollers 31 and 33 are merely for the purpose ofpermitting the operation of the machine at high speeds without excessivewear upon the top plate or the actuating gears, or upon the carrieritself.

I have found that threads so light and weak that they could not be usedwith the ordinary carrier at ordinary speeds of braiding machines, canbe effectively used 111 a oraiding machine equipped with carriersembodying my present invention and operating at much higher speeds thanordinary, and that there is practically no breakage of these light, weakthreads even at these higher speeds. By interposing between thetensioning traveler and the bobbin or cop I s a fixed tensioning devicedeveloplng a constant uniform resistance to the run of the thread, thestresses to which the thread is subjected are limited to the resistanceof this tension device, which, in addition to thus preventing thebreakage of the thread, will cause substantially uniform tensionconditions at all times irrespective of the speed of operation of themachine, and not only ensure an increased output of the machine, butuniformity in the product.

In the event of the running out of a bobbin or cop, or the breakage of athread from causes other than structural characteristics in the carrier,the tensioning traveler 1.5 will be instantly forced to its lowermostposition and acted upon by the stop mechanism in the usual and wellknown manner. This feature of the carrier is not my invention,

and I make no claim thereto and will not describe in detail this mode ofoperation, which as stated, is well known to all users of braidingmachines,

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details ofconstruction shown in the drawings, it being apparent that such may bevaried without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire toihaveprotected by Letters Patent, is:

1. A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein an upperplate adapted to bear upon the top plate of a braiding machine, aspindle for a bobbin or cop carried by said plate, a stem an eye formedtherein carried by said plate and parallel with said spindle, atensioning traveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem and havingan eye formed thereon for the thread, means constantly acting upon saidtraveler to impart a movement thereto away from the eye of said stem, alooped guide for the thread carried by saidplate parallel with andintermediate said spindle and said stem, and a tensioning device adaptedto engage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler.

2, A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein an upperplate adapted to bear upon the top plate of a braiding machine, aspindle for a bobbin or cop carried by said plate, a stem having an eyeformed therein carried by said plate and parallel with said spindle, atensioning traveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem and havingan eye formed thereon for the thread, a spring acting constantly uponsaid traveler with a normal tendency to force it downwardly, anelongated guide for the thread carried by said plate parallel with andintermediate said spindle and said stem, and a tensioning device adaptedto engage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler. I

3. A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein an upperplate adapted to bear upon the top plate of a braiding machine, aspindle for a bobbin or cop carried by said plate, a stem having an eyeformed therein carried by said plate and parallel with said spindle, atensioning traveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem and havingan eye formed thereon for the thread, a spring acting constantly uponsaid traveler with a normal tendency to force it downwardly, meanswhereby the tension of said spring may be varied, an elongated guide forthe thread carried by said plate parallel with and intermediate saidspindle and said stem, and a tensioning device adapted to engage thethread intermediate said guide and said traveler.

4. A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein a spindlefor a bobbin or cop, a stem having an eye formed therein, a tensioningtraveler having an eye formed thereon for the thread, a looped guide forthe thread adjacent said spindle having a shank extending parallel withsaid spindle, said traveler being slidably mounted to have verticalmovement upon said stem and said shank, and a tensioning device adaptedto engage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler.

5. A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein a spindlefor a bobbin or cop, a stem having an eye formed therein, a tensioningtraveler having an eye formed thereon for the thread, a looped guide forthe thread adjacent said spindle having a shank extending parallel withsaid spindle, said traveler beingslidably mounted to have verticalmovement upon said stem and said'shank, a coiled spring about said shankand acting upon said" traveler, a spring seat carried by said shankagainst which said spring acts, and a tensioning device adapted toengage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler.

.6. A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein a spindlefor a bobbin or cop, a stem having an eye formed therein, a tensioningtraveler having an eye formed thereon for the thread, a looped guide forthe thread adjacent said spindle having a shank extending parallel withsaid spindle, said traveler being slidably mounted to have verticalmovement upon said stem and said shank, a coiled spring about said shankand acting upon said traveler, a spring seat adjustably mounted uponsaid shank against which said spring acts, means whereby said springseat may be set in any adjusted position, and a tensioning deviceadapted to engage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler.v

7. A carrier for tubular braiding machines cmbodying therein an upperplate adapted to bear upon the top plate ofa braiding machine, a spindlefor a bobbin or cop carried by said plate, astem having an eye formedtherein carried by said plate and parallel with said spindle, atensioning traveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem and havingan eye formed thereonfor the thread, means constantly acting upon saidtraveler to impart a movement thereto away from the eye of said stem, alooped guide for the thread carried by said plate parallel with andintermediate said spindle and said stem, a tensioning device adapted toengage the thread intermediatesaid guide,

and said traveler, and means whereby said tensioning device may beadjusted toregulate its operative effect upon the thread passingtherethrough.

8. A carrier for tubular braiding ma chines embodying therein an upperplate adapted to bear upon the top plate of a braiding machine, aspindle for a bobbin or cop carried by said plate, a stem having an eyeformed therein" carried by said plate and parallel with said spindle, atension ing traveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem andhaving an eye formed thereon for the thread, a spring acting constantlyupon said traveler with a normal tendency to force it downwardly,an-elongated'guide for the thread carried by said plate parallelwithfand intermediate said spindle and said stem, a tensioning deviceadapted to'engage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler,and means whereby said tensioning device may be adjusted to regulate itsoperative effect upon the thread passing therethrough.

9. A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein an upperplate adapted to bear upon the top p ate of a braiding machine, aspindle for a bobbin or cop carried by said plate, a stem hav1ng an eyeformed therein carried by said plate and parallel with said spindle, atensioning traveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem and havingan eye formed thereon for the thread, a spring acting constantly uponsaid traveler with a'normal tendency toforce it downwardly, meanswhereby the tension of said spring may be varied, an elongated guide forthe thread carried by said plate parallel with and intermediate saidspindle and said stem, and a tensioning device adapted to engage thethread intermediate said guide and said traveler, and means whereby saidtensioning device may bevadjusted to regulate its operative effect uponthe thread assing therethrough.

10. A carrier or tubular braiding machines embodying therein a spindlefor a bobbin or cop, a stem having an eye formed therein, a tensioningtraveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem and having an eyeformed thereon for the thread, a

looped guide for the thread adjacent said spindle having a shankextending parallel with said spindle, said traveler being, slidablymounted tohave vertical movement upon said stem and said shank, a coiledspring about said shank and acting upon said traveler, a spring seatcarried by said shank against which said spring acts, a tensioningdevice adapted to engage the thread intermediate said guide and saidtraveler, and means whereby said tensioning device may be adjusted toregulate its operative effect upon the thread passing therethrough.

'11, A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein a spindlefor a bobbin or cop, a stem having an eye formed therein, a tensioningtraveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem and having an eyeformed thereon for the thread, a guide for the thread adjacent saidspindle, a tensioning device adapted to engage the 7 thread intermediatesaid guide and said traveler, an upper plate carrying said spin dle andsaid guide, and adapted to seat upon the top plate of a braidingmachine, a lower plate spaced away therefrom adapted to enbobbin or co astem havin an e e formed therein, a tensioning traveler slldably mountedin relation to said stem and having an eye formed thereon for thethread, a guide for the thread adjacent said spindle, a tensioningdevice adapted to engage the thread intermediate said guide and saidtraveler, an upper plate carrying said spindle and sa1d guide, andadapted to seat upon the top plate of a braiding machine, a lower platespaced away therefrom adapted to engage the under side of the top plateof a braiding machlne, studs connecting said "plates, anti-frictionrollers mounted upon said studs, said rollers being adapted to move inthe slots of the top plate of a braiding machine, a dependent studcarried by said lower plate, and an antifriction roller carried therebyin a position to be engageable by the actuating gears of a braidingmachine.

13. A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein an upperplate adapted to bear upon the top plate of a braiding machine, aspindle for a bobbin or cop carried by said plate, a stem having an Heye formed therein carried by said plate and parallel with said spindle,a tensioning traveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem andhaving an eye formed thereon for the thread, means constantly actingupon said traveler to impart a movement thereto away from the eye ofsaid stem, a looped guide for the thread carried by said plate parallelwith and intermediate said spindle and said stem, a tensioning deviceadapted to engage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler,and a light friction brak ing device adjacent said spindle and inengageable relation with the end of a bobbin or cop thereon.

14. A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein a spindlefor a bobbin or cop, a stem having an eye formed therein, a tensioningtraveler having an eye formed thereon for thethread, a looped guide forthe thread adjacent said spindle to have vertical movement upon saidstem 7 and said shank, a coiled spring about said shank and acting uponsaid traveler, a spring seat carried by said shank against which saidspring acts, a tensioning device adapted to engage the threadintermediatesaid guide and said traveler, means whereby said tensloningdevice may be adjusted to regulate its operative effect upon the threadpassing therethrough, and a light friction braking device adjacent saidspindle and in engageable relation with the end of a bobbin or copthereof.

In witness whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature this 7th day ofJanuary, 1926.

WILLIAM E. COOK.

